Gordon Banks was a goalkeeping giant, a genuine all-time great, and a thoroughly lovely man to go with it.

No-one meeting him could fail to be awed by his reputation, but quickly relaxed by a humble man and his easy going manner.

Football will remember him as one of the best goalkeepers to ever step forth between a set of goal posts, a man entitled to stand tall alongside Lev Yashin, Dino Zoff, Peter Shilton, Peter Schmeichel, Gianluigi Buffon and any other name you care to pluck from the ages.

His career was defined by three years for which he will be forever fondly and reverentially remembered.

Gordon Banks... farewell to a footballing giant (Image: Getty)

In 1966, a year synonymous with sport’s most memorable achievement in this country, he was Banks of England, the man guarding our goal like he was guarding the crown jewels.

He was beaten only once in five games en route to the World Cup final and once there he played his part in a Wembley victory to rank above all others.

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In 1970 his fame spread even further across the globe after the so-called save of the century to defy both Pele and gravity during a World Cup clash with the mighty Brazil.

Bobby Moore joked about his failure to catch the ball, while Pele later quipped that he too was best remembered for that save.

And in 1972, a little closer to home, he was a kingpin of the Stoke City side that scraped through no fewer than 11 League Cup ties - including four in the semi-final against West Ham thanks to his magnificent penalty save - before defeating Chelsea in the final to lift the first trophy in the club’s 109-year history.

Those playing with Banks would admire the ease with which he made great saves look like good saves because of his anticipation, quick feet and sure handling.

Defenders playing with Banks would say they stood tall, brimming with confidence, just knowing the best goalkeeper in the land had their back.

In all likelihood he, not Peter Shilton, would have been the first goalkeeper to 100 England caps had a car accident in late 1972 not blinded him in one eye and cut short his international career at 73 appearances.

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He was two months short of his 35th birthday and had years left in him.

He attempted a comeback in the United States and wasn’t half bad with one eye, but not as good as he once was with two, and would reluctantly call it a day before dabbling in football management and business in the years ahead.

He was prominent among those World Cup winners considered to be neglected by football in this country, principally by the FA, which stood accused of casting a cursory glance towards those 1966 heroes.

The `save of the century' - Gordon Banks denies Pele and gravity in 1970

Gordon, with a dignity and humility true to his personality, kept any such grievance to himself.

Instead, he and his old England team-mates were left to re-live their moment of glory in documentaries, interviews and the like - and no-one spoke with more pride and enthusiasm than their number one goalkeeper.

Many believed Gordon was also neglected by this country’s honours system after his OBE in 1970 was never followed by the knighthood his feats and charity work surely merited.

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What a tragic irony if that honour should now be awarded posthumously.

But he would have gone knowing that the public held him in the highest esteem and with the deepest affection, not least here in his adopted city, as Stoke Minister is now presumably prepared for something of a `state’ funeral.